2024 KCSE Overall Grade Summary.
The number of candidates scoring a mean grade of A (plain) in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) rose by 477 compared to the previous year. A total of 1,693 candidates achieved the top grade, up from 1,216 in 2023.
Meanwhile, 7,743 candidates scored an A-, 19,150 obtained a B+, 43,120 earned a B, and 75,347 secured a B-.
The examinations recorded 99,388 candidates scoring a C+, followed by 111,717 with a C grade and 118,781 with a C-. Additionally, 128,885 candidates scored a D+, 153,334 earned a D, and 151,487 obtained a D-. The lowest grade, E, was scored by 48,333 candidates.
The number of students who scored C+ and above, qualifying them for direct university entry, totaled 246,391, representing 25.53 percent of the total candidates.
This marked an improvement from 2023, where 201,133 candidates (22.3 percent) qualified for university entry.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba attributed the rise to an improved grading system introduced in 2023, which emphasizes performance in mathematics, the best language subject, and the five highest-scoring additional subjects.
Eligibility for Technical Courses
Candidates with C- and above, qualifying for technical institutions and diploma programs, numbered 476,889, translating to 49.4 percent of the total candidates. In 2023, 401,216 candidates (44.42 percent) reached this threshold, reflecting a notable increase.
Instances of exam malpractice were reported in the 2024 KCSE. Results for 2,829 candidates suspected of cheating were withheld pending investigations expected to conclude within 30 days.
Additionally, 840 candidates had their results canceled after being confirmed to have engaged in malpractice.
For the first time in KCSE history, the number of female candidates (482,202) surpassed that of males (480,310).
Gender participation trends varied across counties: Nairobi, Kisumu, and Uasin Gishu all had higher percentages of female candidates, with Kisumu and Uasin Gishu reporting 52.4 percent and 51 percent, respectively. Nakuru saw 50.4 percent female participation, while Mombasa recorded more male candidates at 51.2 percent.
Mr. Ogamba emphasized that the near gender parity underscores efforts to promote equitable access to education across Kenya.
Read Also: 2024 KCSE Results: Over 200k Eligible for University Admission
Increased Enrollment
A total of 965,172 candidates registered for the 2024 KCSE, but 962,512 sat for the exams, marking a 7.1 percent increase from 899,453 in 2023.
The Education Cabinet Secretary highlighted that this growth reflects the government’s dedication to expanding educational access and supporting learner progression through the system.
Approximately 70.95 percent of the candidates (684,765) were within the ministry’s recommended age bracket of 17 to 19 years. Older candidates, aged 20 years and above, constituted 22.07 percent of the total, numbering 259,861.
This distribution further demonstrates efforts to ensure inclusivity within the education system.
2024 KCSE Overall Grade Summary.